Progress on Gold and Hog fires

ADIN, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters increased containment of two wildfires in rural northeastern California, authorities said Thursday.

The Gold Fire in northern Lassen County is 15% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The 22-square-mile (57-square-kilometer) fire is south of the Modoc County community of Adin.

Weather was beginning to stabilize and thunderstorm activity was expected to be minimal, but gusty winds and low relative humidity were to continue, Cal Fire said.

Evacuation orders continued in the area of private residences, ranches and commercial operations including agriculture, livestock and timber.

In southern Lassen County, the 15-square-mile (39-square-kilometer) Hog Fire west of Susanville was 26% contained, Cal Fire said. Evacuation orders also continued there.

Elsewhere, firefighters contained 85% of the 46-square-mile (119-square-kilometer) Mineral Fire in western Fresno County where seven structures have burned since the blaze started July 13.

Currently, 47 large fires have burned more than 668 square miles (1,732 square kilometers) in 13 states, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

For the first time since July 2018, the U.S. Forest Service activated National Guard aircraft to supplement contract air tankers.

Two aircraft from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing are now available at Sacramento McClellan Airport. The C-130s are equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems.

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